Chapter 198: Hand Binding
*Holy shit, this is how we got the term tying the knot. – Whip*
Knuckles stood by the stone alter that stood against the Eastern tree line. Moira had explained that their Coven was a Coven of light and the position of the sun had meaning to them. The rising sun meant new life where the setting sun indicated death. Because of this, bindings and blessings always occurred in the morning light. Funerals and severings occurred at twilight.
Grandmother Olivia stood behind the alter, the rest of the Coven stood behind her. Family and friends stood in the open meadow. Several of the Saints had asked about standing for the ceremony and most of the Coven simply laughed at their concerns.
“Our hand binding ceremony is not like your Christian weddings.” Siobhan finally explained. “Especially with Trigg in charge.”
She had been helping them to put on their kilts and accessories. It was impressive that Nessie had contacted the shop, provided surnames and they provided the correct tartan.
Commemorative Sgian Dubhs had been ordered. On one side of the handle was the Devil’s Saints patch. On the other side was a Celtic knot with the Ness Monster in the center. On opposing sides along the blade were the club motto and Ní neart go cur le chéile.
“There’s no strength without unity.” Knuckles translated looking at the blade. The same blade was now against his left calf.
A bagpiper began to play as Toad led Nessie towards Knuckles. She wore a simple long sleeve white cotton dress. Over the bodice was a light gray corset with a thin line of Urquhart tartan along the edges. The long full skirt was slit up the side revealing a dark green, blue and pinkish red tartan petticoat underneath.
Knuckles couldn’t help but smile at her as she approached him. Her hair was free and wild, just as he liked it. She wore no make-up and only the luckenbooth brooch he had given her and the pearl teardrop earrings from Siobhan. Her silver medallion was tucked inside the corset along with her mother’s pearl necklace.
Toad kissed her temple before placing her hand in Knuckles' hand. “Treat her right, or skirt or no skirt, I will kill you. Personally.”
Knuckles nodded as his president clapped him on the shoulder. Toad went to his wife and sons. Brody had arrived earlier in the day much to the delight of his parents. He was not close to the Scottish side of the family, but still believed that family was family.
Grandmother Olivia handed the couple each other’s rings. They slipped them onto the right ring finger, a Scottish tradition that Nessie did not really know the origin of. She had never thought about it before.
They grasped each other’s forearms and Grandmother Olivia wrapped both Urquhart and Campbell tartans around them.
As she wrapped them she asked, “Do yeh promise to honor and respect one another and never break this vow?” They both answered yes.
“Will yeh ease the other’s pains?” Again, they both answered in the affirmative.
“Will yeh rejoice in each other’s happiness?” as they both said yes, she brought one end of each tartan together above their hands.
“Will yeh encourage each other and allow the bonds of love to grow?”
This time as they said yes, she repeated the process beneath their hands. “Will yeh share in the laughter and tears, ups and downs, difficulties and simple times and support each other through everything together.”
They both said yes and the older woman nodded.
Smiling at Knuckles, Nessie blinked back tears. “Yeh. Only yeh. From now until my last breath I bind meself to yeh.”
He reached out and brushed away the tear that escaped down her cheek. “You. Only you. From now until my last breath I bind myself to you.”
Grandmother Olivia held their hands in both of hers. “So, the bond is made.”
“Can I kiss her?” Knuckles asked not certain of the traditions.
“She’s yer wife, ask her, not me.” The old priestess laughed.
“Aye,” Nessie smiled, “yeh can kiss me.”
With his free hand, he pulled her to him, trapping their bound hands between them. With his hand at the back of her neck, Knuckles leaned down and kissed her soundly on the lips. The crowd erupted in cheers as her arm went around his neck and deepened the kiss.
When they broke apart, Grandmother Olivia untied the tartans. She then handed each their own. Nessie removed the brooch with the Devil’s Saints patch from the fly plaid and added the Urquhart tartan over the Campbell tartan on his left shoulder. Knuckles then did the same using her luckenbooth brooch to attach his clan tartan over her left shoulder.
Nessie leaned into the cold touch on her cheek and closed her eyes as tears slipped out. “Goodbye me friend. Rest easy.” She whispered.
Knuckles pulled her into a warm embrace and hugged her to him.
“Nacht.” Grandmother Olivia scoffed. “Yeh’ll see him again. And yeh'll recognize him.”
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